The Most Expensive Stradivari Failed to Sell!
Violist David Aaron Carpenter holds the 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1719, during a presentation at Sotheby's auction house in Paris April 15, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Charles Platiau
The "Macdonald" viola, which was made by the famous Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari in 1719, has failed to sell at Sotheby's sealed bidding auction. The asking price was $45 million US dollars and no buyer took the bite. The current record price of a Stradivari remains at $15.9M held by the 'Lady Blunt' made in 1721.
Violins have proven to be great investments (10-20% annually ) like great paintings by Picasso. If one bought an Italian violin back in 1960s for $900 USD, the same instrument today would be worth $100,000 USD. Now going back to Strad: one could buy a Stradivari violin in 1970s for $30,000 USD. Today, that instrument would be selling around $3 million. C'est la vie.
What are your thoughts?